Activist groups have urged the UN to investigate its Myanmar envoy, Julie Bishop, for alleged ties to Chinese firms. They cite potential conflicts of interest and a damaging impact on her role in civil engagement. Bishop’s firm denies any involvement in fiduciary roles and has not publicly responded to the allegations. The UN confirmed receipt of the inquiry but offered no further comments.

The United Nations is under pressure to investigate Julie Bishop, its special envoy on Myanmar, concerning alleged connections between her consulting firm and Chinese mining and construction companies operating in Myanmar. Justice for Myanmar, a leading advocacy organization, has formally contacted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, referencing a report from The Saturday Paper that outlines these purported links. Other activist groups have subsequently joined this call for an inquiry.

The advocacy group emphasized that the connections to Chinese companies operating in Myanmar represent “unacceptable conflicts of interest that must be fully investigated.” They implored Guterres to assess Bishop’s business activities, evaluate her ongoing suitability for the UN role, and publicize the results of the investigation.

Bishop, the former Australian foreign minister and current chancellor of the Australian National University, has yet to publicly respond to these allegations. She took on the envoy role for Myanmar in April. In a statement to The Australian, her firm characterized itself as a private advisory entity focused on providing strategic analysis and explicitly stated it does not engage in fiduciary roles or offer legal, corporate, or financial advice.

Myanmar has been engulfed in civil unrest since the military coup that removed Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government in 2021. The regime heavily relies on revenues from Chinese-supported mining and construction initiatives, with China also playing a vital role as a weapons supplier to the military leadership.

Justice for Myanmar pointed out that Bishop’s business associations with firms interested in Myanmar could jeopardize her effectiveness as the UN envoy, especially given her obligation to interact constructively with civil society. A spokesperson for the group stated, “The loss of trust of Myanmar civil society is a critical issue for the special envoy’s position.” Reports revealed that Bishop’s consulting firm had dealings with Energy Transition Minerals, a company engaged in rare earths and associated with Shenghe Resources, which reportedly obtains rare earths from Myanmar. The UN has confirmed receipt of the inquiry letter but has refrained from further comments regarding the situation.

Calls for an investigation into Julie Bishop, the UN envoy on Myanmar, have emerged due to alleged conflicts of interest linked to her consulting firm’s relations with Chinese companies. Advocacy groups, led by Justice for Myanmar, assert that these connections could undermine her role within the UN, especially concerning engagement with local civil society. The outcome of this situation remains critical for restoring trust in the UN’s involvement in Myanmar, amidst ongoing civil unrest.

Original Source: www.aljazeera.com

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